In a historic and pivotal moment, Hon. Elvis Nkandu, Zambia's Minister of Youth, Sport, and Arts, graced the Midlands Cricket Association quadrangular tournament, marking the first time a Minister has attended such a cricket event. His presence was met with appreciation and optimism from the cricketing community. During the tournament, which witnessed the Indian team's triumphant victory, followed by Alexandra from Zimbabwe, and the Zambian team Midlands Select 1 securing third place, Hon. Nkandu seized the opportunity to address critical issues concerning cricket in Zambia. He emphasized the need for collaboration between the Zambia Cricket Union and the National Sports Council to resolve the challenges that led to Zambia's suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC), preventing the nation's participation in ICC competitions. Hon. Nkandu lauded the remarkable levels of skill and discipline exhibited throughout the tournament, expressing his commitment to providing the necessary support to promote cricket as a nationwide sport. He stated, "The high levels of skill and discipline displayed during this tournament give me enough motivation as Minister of Sports to see to it that my office accords you all the relevant support that you may need to ensure that cricket becomes a nationwide sport. Let me take this opportunity to make an earnest appeal to the Zambia Cricket Union and its various stakeholders to feel free to engage NSCZ and my Ministry to ensure that our relationship with the ICC is normalized." The presence of dignitaries added prestige to the event, with Indian High Commission Deputy Secretary Sudipta Roy, Zambia Cricket Union Interim President Zubair Patel, Bharuch District Cricket Association Vice President Ismail Matadar, and esteemed Ministry officials, including Acting Director of Sports Wesley Chikwamu, National Sports Council Acting General Secretary Raphael Mulenga, and NOCZ General Secretary Boniface Kambikambi, among others. The Midlands Cricket Association's Technical Director, Ismael Mbatata, extended gratitude to the government for facilitating the Minister's attendance and underscored the importance of government support in mediating cricket-related matters. In recognition of their valuable contributions to sports, the Minister and his entourage were honored during the event, reaffirming the commitment to nurturing cricket's growth and development in Zambia.